Kuala Lumpur, 4 May 2012 – The Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC), the nation’s peak NGO on HIV/AIDS, announced today the nominees for its Red Ribbon Media Awards 2012. By recognising and honouring media practitioners for their effective, responsible and courageous journalistic and creative responses to the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in Malaysia, the Red Ribbon Media Awards set a benchmark for the media industry and complement MAC’s efforts to create greater awareness of HIV/AIDS and to address stigma and discrimination.

Shortlisted nominees in the Broadcast and Print Media categories display outstanding journalistic qualities in covering a broad range of thought-provoking HIV/AIDS issues that run the gamut from drug use to the plight of people living with HIV in Malaysia. Meanwhile, the advent of social media and its impact on influencing public opinion are clearly evidenced in the remaining Non-Traditional Media category. Nominees in this category capitalised on the accessibility of the Internet-mediated communication platforms, such as blogs and social networking sites, to disseminate information and messages about HIV/AIDS.

Below is the final nominations list of the Red Ribbon Media Awards 2012.

Category 1: Outstanding Achievement in Broadcast Media*

1. “360: Jangan Pisahkan Kami” (TV3); Mohd Said Abdullah Thani (Executive Producer)
2. “AIDS 2010: Ending Ignorance” (Astro Awani); Syed Farradino Syed Omar (Producer)
3. “Malaysian Mosque Offers Methadone Treatment to IV Drug Users” (Al-Jazeera English TV); Florence Looi (Reporter) & Brian Donald (Producer)

Category 2: Outstanding Achievement in Print Media

1. “Don’t Blow Your Future” by Ivy Soon, Melody L. Goh, Niki Cheong, Sharmila Nair, Nasa Maria Entaban, Ian Yee, and Qishin Tariq; The Star
2. “Semangat Juang Penghidap HIV Positif” by Suhana Binti Veru; Kosmo!
3. “Stigma Individu ODHA” by Rosmah Mohd Dain; Mega – Utusan Malaysia

Category 3: Outstanding Achievement in Non-Traditional Media

1. “AIDSAware”; Multimedia HIV/AIDS awareness campaign featuring popular celebrities as “Messages”; Kevin Nicholas Baker (Programme Manager, PT Foundation)
2. “Aku HIV Positif”; Blog http://akuhivpositif.blogspot.com containing personal accounts and ruminations of a blogger living with HIV; Mohamad Bin Wahid (Blog Contributor)

A more complete and descriptive list of nominees may be found here.

Winners of the Red Ribbon Media Awards 2012 will be announced at a dinner gala to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of MAC on 12 May 2012 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, which is the venue sponsor. The event is also supported by Pharmaniaga Marketing Sdn Bhd, Kuzie Catering Sdn Bhd, M.A.C Cosmetics and Hard Rock Hotel Penang.

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